IHG offering opportunity to buy back or increase status for 2026

IHG One Rewards is once again offering members the opportunity to buy elite qualifying points to retain or upgrade their status during the 2025 status year in order to have that available throughout 2026. Unlike last year’s offer though, the value of buying the points isn’t as good because you’ll only get a 20% discount (if you have an eligible IHG credit card) versus the larger discount on offer in 2024 for 2025.

The Deal

• Buy IHG One Rewards elite qualifying points to maintain or upgrade your status.
• Direct link to offer.

Key Terms

• This Offer is available to IHG One Rewards members for qualifying purchases of IHG One Rewards points made during the period from 12:00 AM ET December 16, 2025 and 11:59 PM ET December 31, 2025 inclusive (“Offer Period”).
• Elite Qualifying Points purchased are not refundable.
• A member may only make a singular points purchase under this promotion.
• Purchased EQPs (Elite Qualifying Points) will count toward a Member’s Year-To-Date EQP balance.
• The Member will have the opportunity to either maintain their current Diamond Elite status or upgrade from Platinum Elite to Diamond Elite status.
• The Member’s purchase level is dependent upon their current status as of December 4, 2025.
• If the Member purchases enough to cross the Elite Qualifying Points thresholds to maintain their status, that status will be granted automatically.
• EQPs will be awarded up to 72 hours after completion of the transaction, and new Diamond Elite status will be reflected within 5-10 business days after the purchase.
• Renewed and Upgraded status gained from the purchase of EQPs will be valid for the remainder of 2025 and all of the 2026 calendar year.
• EQPs and resulting status will be awarded to the recipient of the EQP purchase only.
• Price includes all applicable fees.
• EQPs are applicable toward all IHG One Rewards redemptions.
• Elite Qualifying Nights are not part of this offer and cannot be purchased.
• This is an exclusive, non-transferable offer for intended recipients only and may not be forwarded.
• Save at least 20% on points purchases when you pay for those points with your IHG One Rewards Premier, Premier Business or Traveler Credit Cards. Point purchase amounts are subject to change by IHG One Rewards. Upon completion of the points purchase, you agree that the total dollar price of the points, minus the discount, will be immediately charged to your credit card. The cost for the points purchased is non-refundable. The 20% discount cannot be combined with any other points purchase offer. Point purchase transactions managed by Points.com.

Quick Thoughts

Something important to be aware of is that Elite Qualifying Points do two things. They count towards your elite status level (as the name suggests), and they’re redeemable points for award stays.

When IHG ran a similar offer last year, for a limited time it was possible to buy the Elite Qualifying Points (EQPs) for 0.53 cents per point. If you needed the full 120,000 EQPs for Diamond status, that cost you $640. That pricing appeared to be a mistake as it was pulled shortly after, but they did bring it back for some members; I was one of those affected and was grateful to be able to buy those points at the second opportunity.

Pricing is more expensive this time. To buy 120,000 EQPs for Diamond status, it’ll cost $800 which takes into account a 20% discount for having an IHG Premier credit card. That’s like buying points for 0.66 cents per point; that’s not amazing considering IHG points frequently go on sale for 0.5 cents per point, but 0.66 cents per point could still be worthwhile if you value the benefits of Diamond status too.

Last year it was worth it for me as I anticipated several IHG stays during 2025 where I could make good use of both the points and the status. However, looking ahead to 2026 I think we’re going to have minimal IHG stays which means the 120,000 points at 0.66 cents per point and Diamond status won’t be as useful. As a result, I’ll likely pass on this offer personally and drop back down to Platinum, a status level I’ll have courtesy of my IHG Premier card.

Be aware that you have to buy the points through the special Elite Qualifying Points purchase page linked to above. If you visit the regular Points.com purchase page, you won’t be buying EQPs and so you’ll only have redeemable points, not points that’ll also count for status.

Based on the terms of this promotion, it looks like this offer is only available to those who have either Platinum or Diamond status already. However, perhaps Gold members will get the opportunity to buy up to Platinum status, although that benefit level has fewer worthwhile benefits.

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